Timing device



5, 1942- E. w. SEEGER EI'AL 2,305,392

TIMING DEVICE Filed June 28, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 15, 1942'. E, w, SEEGER Em 2,305,392

TIMING DEVICE Filed June 28, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 emote. 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE 4 I 2.30am

TIMING DEVICE we... 1'' ,ttrfti'tflfiififltti Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Delaware Application June 2:, 1941, Serial No. 400,230 9 Claims. (01. zoo-c1) invention relates to improvements in timing de es, and although not limited thereto is particularly adapted for maintenance of a given circuit condition of an electric circuit for a given time after the initiation of such condition, and

interval and until the initiating device is again operated to effect a repetition of said current s pply.

Instead of controlling the current supply of a translating device; the timing device which embodies the invention may also be employed to control a mechanical element such as a movable arm, to move for a given time upon initiation of operation of the timing device, and to thereafter retain the position to which it has been moved until the timing device is deenergized, whereupon the arm may again return to'the initial position. An object of the invention is'to provide an improved timing device of the aforementioned character which will afford'a given timing period, and which may be restored to its initial condition substantially instantaneously.

Another object is to provide a timing device of the aforementioned character which aflords adjustment of the timing cycle over a relatively wide range.

Another object is to provide an electrically operated timing device which may be operated by either direct or alternating current.

Another object is to provide an electrically operated timing device, the time cycl of which is independent of the frequency of the alternating current supplied thereto.

Another object is to provide a compact and simple timing device of the aforementioned character.

Another object is to provide a timing device wherein the necessity for sliding gears or clutches is obviated.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings,

of the device omitted, for clarity of illustration, and

Fig. 6 iliustratesdisgrammatically the electri- Figure 1 is a top view of a device embodying our invention.

Fig. 2 is a side view thereof.

Figs. 3, 4, and 5 are fragmentary sectional views, on the lines 3-3, 4-4, 5-5, respectively,

- latter can be fixed in any desired I an angle -calconnectionsofthedeviceshowninligs.lto

5, inclusive.

The device illustrated in the drawings is provided. with an operating electromagnet l and a holding electromagnet 2. '1h e electromagnet I comprises a U shaped stationary fram 3, and a central core 4 attached to the U-shaped frame intermediate of the two legs thereof. The core 4 is surrounded by an energizing coil I. Pivoted at. 6 on one leg of the U-shaped frame is an armature I which is normally biased away from the stationary frame by a biasing spring '8 interposed between the rearward extension 9 of the armature I and a bracket ll attached to the frame 3.

The coil 5 is held in position on the core 4 by ped non-magnetic member ll one side of which overlies the end of the coil 8, and

acts as a stop for the armature, while the other end is arranged for the support of the electromagnet from a main frame l2 of the apparatus as will be explained hereinafter. The electromagnet 2 is similar in construction to the electromagnet I and comprises a frame II, a central core l4, an energizing coil IS, an armature ll pivoted on the frame I3 at IS, a biasing spring I8 attached to the extension ll of the armature l1 and to a bracket 20 which latter is fixed to the frame IS.

The two magnetic frames 3 and ii are mounted in back to back relation to each other. The magnet coil Ii is held in place by a non-magnetic member 2| substantially like the member I I aforedescribed. The main frame i2 is U-shaped, the same having a bottom portion 22 and side portions 23 and 24. Portion 23 is provided with a tapped hole 25 (Fig. 1) and portion 24 is provided with a clearance hole 26. A pin 21, having at one end a slotted head 28 and at the other end a threaded portion 28 to engage the tapped hole 25, passes through the portions 23 and 24 to furnish an axis upon which a fly-wheel 30 is rotatably supported.

The pin 21 further has rotatably mounted thereon a disc 3i having a hub 34 integral therewith or otherwise rigidlyconnected thereto. Portion 23 is provided with a tapped opening 32 (Fig. 1) to accommodate the shank of a screw the head of which is adapted to clampingly engage disk 3| adjacent to the periphery thereof whereby the angular position against the portion 23 of frame of Fig. l, certain of said figures having elements The hub 34 of the disc II is Provided with a screw II by means of which one end of a spiral spring I is attached to the hub. The other end of said spiral spring 38 is attached (as by means of a screw, not shown, or in any other suitable manner) to the fly-wheel Ill, so that the spring biases the ily-wheel to a given degree for movement thereof in a clockwise direction, the degree of torsion of spring 34 depending upon the angularpositionoithedisc Ii.

The fly-wheel ll has attached to one side thereof an angle bracket 21 carrying a contact O'Iwhlch normally engages a contact 38 attached to an angle bracket 3! which in turn is attached to an insulating member I!" carried by a bracket I." yieldably supported by the armature I. Bracket l!" is biased toward said armature by means'of a pin 44 fixed to the armature 1 and a spring 4|, and which'permits a limited angular movement between the member 29' and said armature. A pin 1 on the armature penetrates an opening in member 28' to prevent substantial lateral displacement thereof. Rotatably mounted on the pin 21 is a toothed wheel 42 which is provided on one side near its outer circumference with an axially extending pin 43.

One end of a spiral spring 44 is attached to the wheel 42 by being clamped between a shoulder of the pin 43 and the adjacent face of said wheel. The other end of the spiral spring 44 is attached, under a predetermined degree of torsion, by means of a screw 4! to a collar 46.

Hence the spring 44 tends to rotate the wheel 42 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 3. The extreme counterclockwise position of the wheel 42 can be adiustedby means of a stop 41, which is attached to a circular disc 48 arranged concentrically with respectto the pin pin 42 (Figs. 1 and 2) which is screwed or otherwise fastened to the disc 48 and which carries at its outer end a thumb nut II.

The side portion 24 of the frame is provided with a relatively long arcuate slot 5| concentric with the in 21, said slot providing clearance for the shank of pin is which extends outwardly therethrough. By loosening the thumb nut 54, the disc 42 with the stop '41 may be rotated, thereby rotating the toothed wheel 42 through the pin 43, in a clockwise direction (Figs. 2 and 8) against the bias of the spring 44, whereas movement of the disc 48 in a counterclockwise direction (Fig. 2) permits the spring 44 to rotate the wheel 42 in a counterclockwise direction to normally maintain contact between the stop 41 and the pin 43.

The armature I has rigidly attached to its upper end (Figs. 1 and 4) an angle bracket 52, the upstanding side of which is arranged to furnish a support and pivot for a double ended lever 53. One end of the lever 53 is provided with a hook 54 while a spring 55 is interposed between the other end of the lever and the other side ofthe angle bracket, so as to bias said lever for rotation in a counterclockwise direction (Fig. 4)

A guide bracket 58 is rigidly attached in any suitable manner to the frame 22 to guide the reciprocations of the lever 53 in a substantially straight line. Upon energization of electromagnet I the armature I is attracted and eilfects movement of the lever 52 toward the right (Fig. 4); the spring II causing hook 54 to engagethe teeth of the wheel 42. Upon subsequent deenergisation the armature I and lever 52 move to the left under the bias of spring 8 (Fig. 2), thereby causing the hook 54 to rotate the wheel 42 21. The disc 42 may be rotated by means of a 2,sos,soa

of the armature I and said lever toward the right.

During movement of the hook 54 toward the right (Fig. 4), the same and the spring 44 tend to rotate the wheel 42 in a counterclockwise direction. In order to prevent this rotation, the armature ll of the electroma net 2 is provided with a leaf spring I], the free end of which is shaped to form a hook I. capable of yielding engagement with the teeth of the wheel 42 in such a manner that when the electromagnet 2 is energized. the hook it eng es the toothed wheel 42, but permits rotation of the wheel by hook I4 upon movement of armature I toward the left (Fig. 4), while preventing counterclockwise rotation of the wheel 42 by the spring 44.

Thedeviceshowninl ig'al to5isalsoprovided with a switch ll comprising two leaf springs BI and SI, respectively, mounted on and insulated from the frame portion 22 and from each other. The spring II is provided with a cam surface 42 which is engaged by the pin 48 when the wheel 42 approaches its extreme position in the clockwise direction of rotation. When the pin 42 engages the cam 2, it causes separation of the contacts of switch I9, thereby opening the circuit therebetween.

The important elements of the apparatus hereinabove described ar mechanically and electrically related in the manner shown diagrammatically in Fig. 6.. The system is provided with a pilot switch I). which, as shown, may be in the form of a normally open pushbutton switch or the like, and may be used for initiating the supply of current to a translating device '44. Current is supplied from the lines L and I and a circuit extends from line L through normally open switch II (when closed) throu h the armature I, contacts ll, 21, the fly-wheel 2|, coil '4 of eleotromagnet I, switch 42 to line L. A

pilot switch 63 also closes the circuit through the coil [4 of electromagnet 2, so that the hook ll is pulled into engagement with the teeth of wheel 42. A circuit is also completed through the armature I, contacts 32, I1, fly-wheel 30, coil 4, switch 59, to line L. This energizes the electromagnet I. As soon as the electromagnet I is energized its armature is attracted and the bracket 28 through contacts 3| and 31 imparts an impulse to the fly-wheel III to rotate the same in a counterclockwise direction (Fig. 5). At the same time the hook 54 is moved to the right, as will be apparent upon consideration of Fig. 4, to engage the teeth of the wheel 42.

The movement of bracket 39 and contact 22 toward the right (Fig. 5) is limited; whereas the continued counterclockwise rotation of fly-wheel 32 (due to its mass or weight) separates the contact 31 from contact 38, and this deenergizes the electromagnet I. As a consequence the armature I is released and the hook 54 rotates the wheel 42 to a predetermined degree in a clockwise direction, thereby'incidentally increasing the degree of torsion of the spring 44. The hook 58, however, prevents any counterclockwise rotation of the wheel 42 by the spring 44, so long as =the electromagnet 2 is energized.

Under the influence of the spring 36, the rotation of the fiy-wheel 30 will ultimately reverse until the contact 3'l.again engages contact 38 to effect reclosure of the circuit of the coil 4; whereupon the armature 1 is again attracted and the cycle is repeated, until ultimately the pin 43 engages the cam 62. This opens the contacts of switch 59, thereby opening the circuit of the coil 4, so that the magnet armature I cannot reciprocate any more, and at the same time the circuit of the translating device 64 is opened. The timing device now remains in the described position until the pilot switch 63 is operated to open its circuit whereupon the electromagnet 2 is deenergized, thereby permitting the return of the toothed wheel 42 to its initial position, so that upon reclosure of the pilot switch 63 the circuit of the translating device 64 is again closed for a predetermined interval of time in the manner aforedescribed.

It will be noted that the period of energization of the translating device 64 depends upon the angular movement from initial position to final position of the toothed Wheel 42. By adjusting the initial position of the stop 41 through operation of the thumb nut 50 and disc 48 aforedescribed, the number of reciprocations of the magnet armature l for a complete cycle of operation may be adjusted or definitely predetermined. In practice, the outer face of portion 24 of frame 22 is suitably calibrated (as in seconds or the like) for cooperation with an indicating element 65 associated with thumb nut 50.

It is further possible to make the spring 36 which stores up the energy of the fly-wheel adjustable and thereby vary the period of oscillation of the fly-wheel 30. Further adjustments such as the angular displacement of the armature I and thus the angular motion of the wheel 42 for each operation of the electromagnet I are obvious. It is further possible to transmit the movement of the wheel 42 in any well known or desired manner to some mechanical element which is to be controlled for a given time.

With reference of Fig. 4, it may be pointed out that if desired (in order to minimize the required degree of accuracy in maintenance of the tolerances in the dimensions of the parts) the lever 53 may be provided with a boss (not shown) to engage the lower surface of the horizontal portion of guide bracket 56, to more posi tively insure disengagement of hook 54 from ratchet wheel 42 in the extreme left-hand position of said hook.

With further reference to pivot members 6 and I6 (Fig. 2), it is to be understood that each of the same comprises a U-shaped wire member or the like whose main or intermediate body portion is spot-welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the lower surface of the respective magnet frame 3 or l3, whereby the bent ends engage the opposite side edges of the armatures I and I! to prevent substantial lateral displacement thereof. Complementally, the armatures l and I! have spot-welded or otherwise rigidly attached to the inner surfaces thereof the U- shaped member l and I'l respectively, the bent ends of which are angled downwardly as shown 76 to engage the side edges of the magnet frames 3 and I3 to further assist in preventing lateral displacement of said armatures, the main body portions of members I and l'l engaging the inner horizontal surfaces of the respective magnet frames to prevent downward displacement of the armatures. The reducedupper ends of armatures I and I I provide shoulders for cooperation with the lower surface of portion 22 of main frame l2 to prevent substantial upward displacement of said armatures, the springs 8 and I8 performing a similar additional function.

As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, suitable means (not shown) may be provided to automatically maintain the circuit connections afforded by closure of switch 63, pending opening of the switch 59 in the manner aforedescribcd,said means thereupon acting automatically to effect interruption of the energizing circuit of electromagnet 2, whereby all of the various parts of the timing device are returned to the initial positions thereof illustrated in Fig. 6. Such means might be in the form of an electromagnetically operable relay having its energizing coil connected in series with contacts 59 and its normally open contacts connected in parallel with the contacts of switch 63; or electromagnetic means might be provided to automatically latchswitch 63 in closed position, after manual closure thereof, pending deenergization of said means and unlatching of said switch as an incident to opening of contacts 59.

Also, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, any suitable means (not shown) may be provided for damping or retarding the return movement of the fiy-wheel or pendulum 30, after partial counterclockwise rotation thereof (Fig. 5) as an incident to the impact of the armature 1 of electromagnet l thereagainst. Such means might comprise vanes arranged to offer different degrees of resistance to rotation thereof in opposite directions to thereby reduce the speed'of return of the wheel to its initial position wherein the contact 31 carried thereby engages contact 38 (Fig. 6). Such vane or vanes may be adapted to operate as described in air or in a suitable body of liquid.

We claim:

1. A timing device comprising, a control circuit, a control switch operable to connect said circuit to a source of energy, a pendulum biased to a given position, an electromagnet connected to said control circuit and having a reciprocatable armature and adapted upon energization of said electromagnet to induce said pendulum to oscillate and thereby move to another position, normally closed switch contacts operatively connected in circuit with said electromagnet and operable to open the energizing circuit of said electromagnet upon movement of said pendulum toward said other position, a member including means to bias it to a given position and movable by said electromagnet in a succession of steps to another position, means operable by said mem-- ber upon movement to its last mentioned position 'to interrupt the energizing circuit of said electromagnet, and a second electromagnet adapted to prevent response of said member to said biasing means while said control switch is closed.

2. A timing device comprising, a control circuit, a control switch operable to connect said circuit to a source of energy, a fly-Wheel biased to a given angular position and having an abutment, an electromagnet including an energizing coil and a reciprocatable armature adapted upon movement in one direction to engage said abutment and thereby cause said fly-wheel to rotate and to deenergi'ze said coil, a ratchet wheel, a spring normally biasing said ratchet wheel to a predetermined extreme position, a pawl operable by repeated reciprocations of said armature to move said ratchet wheel step by step toward another extreme position, a normally closed switch. in circuit with said coil, means associated with said ratchet wheel and operable in its last mentioned position to open said last mentioned switch, and a second electromagnet connected in circuit with said control switch and provided with a latch and arranged when energized to engage said ratchet wheel and prevent its rotation in response to said biasing means.

3. A timing device comprising, a control circuit, a control switch operable to connect said circuit to a source of energy, a fly-wheel biased to a given angular position and having an abutment. an electromagnet including an energizing coil and a reciprocatable armature adapted upon movement in one direction to engage said abutment and thereby cause said fly-wheel to rotate and to deenergize said coil, a ratchet wheel, a spring normally biasing said ratchet wheel to a given extreme position, a pawl operable by repeated reciprocations of said armature to move said ratchet wheel step by step toward an opposite extreme position, a normally closed switch in circuit with said coil, means associated with said ratchet wheel and operable by the latter to effect opening of said switch, a second electromagnet subject to energization control by said control switch and provided with a latch and arranged when energized to engage said ratchet wheel and prevent its rotation in response to said biasing means, and means to adjust the number of steps between said first and second mentioned extreme positions of said ratchet wheel.

4. A timing device comprising, a control circuit, a control switch operable to connect said circuit to a source of energy, a fly-wheel biased to a given angular position and having a shoulder associated therewith, an electromagnet including an energizing coil and a reciprocatable armature adapted upon movement in one direction to engage said shoulder and thereby cause said flywheel to rotate toward another position and to open the energizing circuit of said electromagnet, a ratchet wheel, a spring normally biasing said ratchet wheel to a predetermined position, a pawl operable by repeated reciprocations of said armature to move said ratchet wheel step by step toward another position. a normally closed switch in circuit with said coil, means associated with said ratchet wheel to open said last mentioned switch, and a second electromagnet subject to energization control by said control switch and provided with a latch and arranged when energized to engage said ratchet wheel and prevent its response to said biasing means.

5. A timing device comprising, a control circuit, a control switch operable to connect said circuit to a source of energy, a fly-wheel biased to a given angular position and having a shoulder associated therewith, an electromagnet including an energizing coil and a reciprocatable armature adapted upon movement in one direction to engage said shoulder and thereby cause said flywheel to rotate toward another position and to open the energizing circuit of said electromagnet, a. ratchet wheel, a spring normally biasing said ratchet wheel to a predetermined extreme position, a pawl operable by repeated reeiprocations of said armature to move said ratchet wheel step by step toward an opposite extreme position, a normally closed switch in circuit with said coil, means operable by said ratchet wheel upon movement thereof to its last mentioned position to effect opening or said last mentioned switch, a second electromagnet connected in circuit with said control switch and provided with a latch and arranged when energized to engage said ratchet wheel and prevent its rotation in response to said biasing means, and means to adjust the number of steps between the extreme positions of said ratchet wheel.

6. A timing device comprising, a control circuit, a control switch operable to connect said circuit to a source of energy, a pendulum biased to a given position, a reciprocatable electromagnet connected to said control circuit and adapted upon energization to induce said pendulum to oscillate and thereby move to another position,normally closed switch contacts operatively connected in circuit with said electromagnet and operable to open the energizing circuit of said electromagnet upon movement of said pendulum toward said other position, a member including means to bias it to a given position and movable by said electromagnet in a succession of steps to another position, means to adjust the angular displacement between said positions of said member, means operable by said member during its movement to said last mentioned position to interrupt the energizing circuit of said electromagnet, and a second electromagnet adapted to prevent response of said ratchet wheel to said biasing means while said control switch is closed.

'7. A timing device comprising, a control circuit, a control switch operable to connect said circuit to a source of energy, a fly-wheel biased to a given angular position and having an abutment, an electromagnet including an energizing coil and a reciprocatable armature adapted upon movement in one direction to engage said abutment and thereby cause said fly-wheel to rotate toward another position and to open the energizing circuit of said electromagnet, a ratchet wheel, a spring normally biasing said ratchet wheel to a given position and movable by said electromagnet to another position, means to adjust the angular displacement between said positions of said ratchet wheel, a pawl operable by repeated reciprocations of said armature to move said ratchet wheel step by step toward its second mentioned position, a normally closed switch in circuit with said coil, means associated with said ratchet wheel to open said last mentioned switch, a second electromagnet connected in circuit with said control switch and provided with a latch and arranged when energized to engage said ratchet wheel and prevent its rotation in response to said biasing means, and means to adjust the number of steps between the aforementioned positions of said ratchet wheel.

8. In a device for timing the operating period of an electrical translating device, in combination, a source of electrical energy supply, a translating device, a switch adapted when closed to initiate the supply of energy to said translating device, a second switch adapted when opened to interrupt the supply of energy to said translating device, means for automatically opening said second switch after a predetermined period of time, said means comprising an electromagnet having an armature and an operating coil, a pivoted inertia wheel associated with said armature,

' said wheel being normally biased toward a given rotary position wherein it engages a part of said armature to efiect completion of the energizing circuit of said coil, said armature when attracted being adapted to effect rotary movement of said wheel against the bias of the latter with consequent temporary interruption of said coil circuit, a ratchet wheel normally biased to a predetermined position, a pawl operable by repeated movements of said armature to effect step by step movement of said ratchet wheel toward another extreme position, means associated with said ratchet wheel and operable in its last mentioned position to effect opening of said second switch;

and a second electromagnet subject to energization control by said first mentioned switch and adapted when energized to prevent rotation of said ratchet wheel under its bias, for the purpose set forth.

9. In a device for timing the operating period ofan electrical translating device, in combination, a source of electrical energy supply, a translating device, a switch adapted when closed to initiate the supply of energy to said translating device, a second switch adapted when opened to interrupt the supply of energy to said translating device, means for automatically opening said second switch after a predetermined period of time, said means comprising an electromagnet having an armature and an operating coil, a pivoted inertia wheel associated with said armature, said wheel being normally biased toward a given rotary position wherein it engages a part of said armature to effect completion of the energizing circuit of said coil, said armature when attracted being adapted to effect rotary movement of said wheel against the bias of the latter with conse-- quent temporary interruption of said coil circuit, a ratchet wheel normally biased to a predetermined position, a pawl operable by repeated movements of said armature to effect step by step movement of said ratchet wheel toward another extreme position, means associated with said ratchet wheel and operable in its last mentioned position to effect opening of said second switch, and a second electromagnet subject to energization control by said first mentioned switch and adapted when energized to prevent rotation of said ratchet wheel under its bias, for the purpose set forth, the aforementioned means including means to efiect' resetting of all of said control elements in their normal positions after each complete cycle of operation thereof.

EDWIN W. SEEGER. CARROLL STANSBURY. 

